(Peru, Neb.) – It was a tough weekend for the Bobcat men's basketball team as they dropped a pair of games in the Northwestern Classic in Orange City, Iowa, to a pair of good NAIA DII Great Plains Athletic Conference teams.
 
On Friday night, the 'Cats fell to Dordt 84-74 and then fell to the tourney hosts on Saturday 88-77. With the two losses, Peru State is now 2-4 on the season. Dordt, who was preseason ranked 13^th in NAIA DII is now 2-3 while the Red Raiders who were receiving votes in the preseason are 3-1.
 
Dordt Game Statistics
 
The Defenders shot the ball better in all aspects in their win over Peru State. Dordt was 26 of 50 for 52% in field goals which included making 6 of 12 from behind the arc for 50%. At the free throw line, the Defenders made 26 of 37 for 70.3%. Peru State made just 28 of 70 field goal tries for 40% and suffered from behind the arc connecting on 5 of 27 for 18.5%. At the charity stripe, the 'Cats made 13 of 21 for 61.9%.

 
Dordt had an advantage in rebounding as they grabbed 45 compared to the Bobcats' 33. Peru State committed fewer turnovers, 19 to the Defenders' 25. The Bobcats did have 14 steals while Dordt only had two.
 
Three Bobcats finished in double figures and were led by Corday Sims (Chicago) with 21 points. Darwin Ellis (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Jamar Cannon (Inglewood, Calif.) each finished with 12 points.
 
Kris Frazier (Cleveland, Ohio) had five rebounds to lead the team while Sims and Riak Bol (Omaha) each had four. Ellis dished out five assists with Connor Dukes (Plattsmouth) adding three. Frazier, Quantice Hunter (Chicago), and Jeff Neverson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) each had one blocked shot. Ellis had a game-high five steals.

DORDT BOX SCORE
 
Northwestern Game Highlights
 

The Red Raiders scored the first ten points of the game and never trailed in the contest. Neverson scored Peru State's first basket with 16:08 left in the first half. The Red Raiders led by as many as 13 at 38-25 with 2:33 remaining in the half before the 'Cats cut it to eight at the end of the half on a bucket by Karim Diop (Dakar, Senegal).
 
Early in the second half, the Red Raiders built the lead to 16 at 55-39 with 16:28 left in the game. The Bobcats did not give up and fought back to cut the deficit to five at 72-57 after a pair of free throws by Sims. Northwestern again went up by nine at 76-57 before Frazier made a pair of free throws and then grabbed an offensive rebound and put in the hoop to get the 'Cats back within five with 5:12 left.
 
That would be as close as Peru State would come in the game as Northwestern went on to win 88-77.
 
Northwestern Game Statistics
 
The statistics appear closer than the final score. Peru State shot the ball better than the Red Raiders as they made 32 of 70 field goals for 45.5%, including making 2 of 9 three-point attempts for 22.2%. The Bobcats made 11 of 13 free throws for 84.6%. Northwestern made 34 of 74 field goals for 45.9% and hit 6 of 24 treys for 25%. At the charity stripe, the Red Raiders made 14 of 21 for 66.7%.
 
The rebounds were nearly even as the Red Raiders grabbed one more than Peru State, 41 to 40. The Bobcats had 18 turnovers while Northwestern committed 15. The 'Cats had nine steals with Northwestern having one more.

 
Four Bobcats finished in double figures with Sims again leading the way with 21 points. Frazier added 18 points while Bol had 12. Neverson finished with 11.
 
Frazier finished with a double-double as he grabbed 12 boards to lead the Bobcats. Neverson added seven.
 
Ellis dished out four assists with Cannon and Hunter each having two. Bol and Frazier each blocked one shot. Sims was credited with three steals while Hunter added two.

NORTHWESTERN BOX SCORE
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State will play its first Heart of America Athletic Conference games this week. On Wednesday, the Bobcats will travel to Atchison, Kan., to take on Benedictine at approximately 7:30 p.m. or 30 minutes after the women's game ends. The Ravens are currently 4-0 and were preseason ranked 22^nd in NAIA Division 1.
 
The Bobcats will then host Central Methodist (Mo.) on Saturday at approximately 4 p.m. The Eagles are 2-2 and will face Heart opponent Evangel at home on Wednesday night.